Transport plan's exciting new goal

[ozbob]

Transport plan's exciting new goal

From The Sunday Mail click here!

Transport plan's exciting new goal
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

By Edmund Burke

October 14, 2007 12:00am

PREMIER Anna Bligh's announcement last week of a new transit authority to co-ordinate southeast Queensland's public transport network is a clear sign of just how important the issue has become.

Increasing oil prices, population pressure, traffic congestion and environmental concerns have sparked calls for a revolution in the commuter landscape.

The new transit authority, yet to be named, will replace Translink, which was established in 2003. Ms Bligh says the new body will have more power to integrate rail, bus and ferry services.

The challenge facing our transport planners is daunting. Translink research predicts the number of trips on public transport services in the state's southeast will double over the next nine years, adding 147 million trips to the already-struggling network   ....  more click here!

[ozbob]

This is a great and timely article in my opinion. 

It signifies the growing realisation of the need to ramp up our public transport options.  Road transport will always be important, but increasingly the sensible option for many will be a revitalised public transport system, with rail being one of key sustainable components for the long haul.

The transport bureaucracy is at last starting to be held accountable for the obvious failings at so many levels. It is too easy to constantly blame politicians. Politicians are often shielded from the reality of systemic failings by a self centered bureaucratic  myopic management culture.  It is every citizens right and responsibility I would suggest to let our political representatives know that policy must be in the best interests of our community.

RAIL Back On Track is only interested in the best outcomes for our community.  It would seem that there is a growing political realisation that the citizens have had enough of poor policy and short term reactionary quick fixes.

Lets move forward with clear directions and purpose.

Regards
Ozbob

[SteelPan]

OzBob,
A new day does indeed seem to dawning - pitty they didn't all have this dose of reality 10yrs ago in the corridors of power.  Funny comment from QT, saying their (Translink) hands have been tied - QT's simple problem is they have a mentality 25-30yrs behind what Brisbane now needs with regards public transport.  Also, sadly, the word "bus" still seems to be raised alot more often then the word "rail" and until we both expand our rail network and improve what we already have, we will continue to play catch-up only!

Interesting times indeed....